Sr. Instructional Designer and Writer, Reading Universe

Position Overview

We are looking for a senior curriculum designer and writer to join the team responsible for Reading Universe, WETA’s ambitious national literacy project focused on teacher professional development.

We launched a prototype version of Reading Universe in July 2023 and we aim for it to become the definitive online guide to teaching reading and writing effectively. Our goal is to deliver a state‑of‑the‑art, research‑based, video‑rich service for educators working with children in pre‑K through 6th grade.

We are seeking to add a literacy expert with a deep understanding of the research that informs how children learn to read. This role is perfect for a candidate who brings a combination of:
1) experience in the classroom teaching children to read;
2) expert knowledge of the research; and
3) proven expertise in communicating research and practice to teachers through effective professional development.

In this job, your primary responsibility will be the development of online teacher professional content that is accessible, authoritative, and appealing.

Research, write, review, and copy edit content, especially for our Reading Universe Skill Explainers. This includes drafting extensive content on your own and also at times working in collaboration with other writers. This work involves

• Ensuring that our content reflects the best and most current research in the field.
• Consulting periodically with members of our team of national experts for their input on reading and writing research and their advice on how teachers can apply that research in the classroom.
• Contributing to or drafting creative briefs for digital assets and print material that will make the skill explainers compelling and instructive for teachers and reading coaches.

• Help identify, scout, and prepare the schools we select for our in‑classroom video, including planning which content to cover, writing the lessons (and support materials) that we will film, and training teachers who will implement the lessons.
• If needed, travel to film locations to support the production and to ensure fidelity of the reading and writing instruction that we record (approximately two to three times a year).
• Review and comment on rough cuts of in‑classroom video, offering suggestions for narration scripts and on‑screen graphics.

Represent Reading Universe as requested in meetings with partners and experts and, as needed, in making public presentations at conferences or teacher training opportunities.

Monitor blogs, websites, journals, and news articles for new developments in the world of literacy.

Help ensure that Reading Universe meets all deadlines and fulfills its commitments to funders, partners, and underwriters.

Perform related special projects or other duties as assigned, primarily for Reading Universe but also possibly for our other education websites (e.g. Reading Rockets.org, AdLit.org, and LDOnLine.org).

• Teacher training and coaching.
• Extensive knowledge of reading and writing research and of the challenges facing schools and teachers in grades pre‑K‑6, including a strong command of research on reading and writing instruction, why so many children struggle to learn to read and write, and how to apply research to improve classroom instruction.
• Excellent understanding of the essential concepts and terms related to research‑based reading instruction, including structured literacy and the simple view of reading.
• Knowledge and understanding of every skill within the Reading Universe Taxonomy and the ability to write an explanation of these skills for teacher professional development.
• Proven ability to develop and create professional content that teachers value.
• Demonstrated ability to successfully perform in an atmosphere of multiple projects, shifting priorities and deadline pressures.
• Excellent interpersonal and communication skills, both oral and written.
• Clear and colloquial writing style.
• Demonstrated ability to exercise considerable initiative and sound judgment.

• Experience with writing and implementing…